Merv’s, Chattanooga TN

I was aware that Merv’s came with a big reputation and that many called their burger one of the best in town. But then I saw the sign, proclaiming theirs the “greatest” in the state. I do love it when places talk big.

Have you ever been so indecisive about a place that you just weren’t in a big hurry to eat there after all? One day in December, I was driving out Signal Mountain Road, bound for Shuford’s Smokehouse, when I shrugged and decided that I wasn’t in the mood for barbecue after all. So I made a right turn on Mountain Creek Road, intending to turn around, and spotted Merv’s on the left. I remembered that everybody in town has said their burgers are fantastic, but their parking lot was full, so I resolved to come back again after Christmas.

I came back in January and made sure to arrive when they opened. I wanted to make sure I had a place to park. The restaurant was very slow on this occasion; other than a trio of carry-out orders, only one other party came in to take a table during the hour I was there, reading and enjoying what is surely and truly one of the greatest hamburgers in the state. This beast is magnificent.

It was so good that I didn’t mind at all that they added mustard to it. This is a juicy and unbelievably tasty burger. Fresh beef, seasoned perfectly, and cooked exactly to my silly specifications. Pair that with some hand-cut fries and I’m thinking… this burger is possibly even better than Zarzour’s. Sacrilege, those words, but maybe true. I’m going to have to make a few more trips to each place and decide for sure. And eat some light vegetarian meals between them.

I read that Merv’s was closed for a couple of months in 2013 because the building flooded. It’s worth remembering that if you choose to go after a heavy rain. That’s not because the building’s in any danger (I hope), but because the parking lot is still somehow prone to gigantic puddles! Watch where you place your car… and watch where you step as you walk around blindly with a camera looking for a half-decent angle to snap a picture of the building!

You can see all the restaurants that we have visited for our blog on this map, with links back to the original blog posts. It’s a terrific resource for anybody planning a road trip through the southeast!